At their 28 February meeting, Christchurch City Councillors voted in favour of staff recommendations to:
- issue a 12 month permit for Lime Technology (Lime’s initial trial permit was due to expire on the day of this meeting)
- increase the cap on Lime e-scooters from 700 to 1,000
- charge an annual rental fee of $86.25 per e-scooter – reflecting the public space occupied
Councillors also approved a citywide cap of 1,600 e-scooters, and delegated to staff the authority to amend the citywide cap, and also the cap that may be applied to an individual permit.
Papanui Councillor Mike Davidson proposed a lower cap for Lime of half the citywide cap. He argued that competition could be stifled by allowing first-mover Lime too much market share, but this amendment was not carried. Continue reading “Limewatch: A vote of confidence by Christchurch City Council”
The Council Service Centre in Papanui now provides postal services, following NZ Post’s closure of their branch on Main North Road. Last year the Langdons Quarter expansion at Northlands opened, along with new office and retail developments further up Langdons Road. Feedback on these changes has been overwhelmingly positive on Think Papanui, but an unintended consequence is the impact on pedestrian and vehicle movements at the busy Restell St / Langdons Rd / Sisson Dr intersection – an area with narrow footpaths, limited sightlines, and adjacent school, mall, and other commercial activity. Crossing the road at this intersection can be dicey for pedestrians, and of course the risk increases for children or those with limited sight or mobility.
Simon Britten 